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Biology 398 Home Page
Biology in Society Senior Seminar
Bryn Mawr College, Fall 2009
A discussion of the nature of biology, and science in general, and of their reciprocal relationship to broader social and cultural activities. Students will participate in on-line forum discussion of papers on this general subject, as well as lead discussions and write web papers on topics of particular interest to themselves. Others are welcome to join in the conversation by way of background readings and on-line forums.
Learning objectives:
- To acquire greater ability to engage in productive public discussion of biological research and its practical and conceptual significance for enhancing an understanding of life, human and otherwise.
- To achieve critical and synthetic in-depth understandings of selected issues at the biology/society interface and make them available in a form that is engaging and useful to others.
Schedule
Comments
on categorization and norms and eating behavior
A recent relevant article: Heaver Americans push back on health debate.
Biology/science and public policy: issues arising
Recent conversations have caused me to think more about ...
connections...
This semester we have discussed the various forms of drug resistence as problematic: antibiotic, chemo, and antiviral resistence. At the chemical level there are some similarities between the drugs we use to fight cancer and the drugs we use for bacterial infections. I curious if we could develop a biological perspective that treated these three conditions together...
on cancer, destruction and the media
http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/thehumancondition/archive/2009/10/23/breaking-health-author-suzanne-somers-mostly-wrong-about-science-medicine.aspx
Re: transcending classification?
On Thursday, November 5, from 10-11:30 a.m., author, playwright and performance artist Kate Bornstein will be holding an "Informal Conversation about Transcending Gender" in the Quita Woodward Room @ Bryn Mawr. Sandwiches and drinks will be served.
You may have seen one of Kate's performances; you may have read one of her books--Gender Outlaw: On Men, Women and the Rest of Us; My Gender Workbook; or (most recently) Hello, Cruel World: 101 Alternatives To Suicide For Teens, Freaks, and Other Outlaws. Or you may not have heard of her and her work. But here's your chance to talk with her about artistry and activism; about sex positivity, gender anarchy, and building a coalition of those who live on cultural margins. She's eager to hear your thoughts and questions.
Sponsored by the Bi-College Program in Gender and Sexuality and the Greater Philadelphia Women's Studies consortium.
Questions? Please contact Anne Dalke: adalke@brynmawr.edu
biology and culture: health/research priorities re cancer
Apropos of past/recent/continuing conversations on cancer and how to approach research priorities/health issues:
Cancer society, in shift, has concerns on screening
biology and culture: themes and subjects arising
Adding on ...
The "classification" matter arises again in connection with mental health issues. And many of the "code of behavior" matters are relevant as well. In addition, we seem to be developing two additional themes:
Some possible senior paper topics
biology and culture: meta-themes arising
Should we/can we change "classifications"?
Should we/can we have codes of behavior that go beyond money, immediate outcomes?
Should biology play a greater role in encouraging "broader perspectives" in social discourse? Should it pay more attention to "broader perspectives" in its own activities?
So since I missed the first
So since I missed the first class, I will base this off the current discussion.
I was pretty excited when I saw this first topic and the comments above because only a few weeks before school started I got into a conversation about religion and science with two non-science major friends. As a biology major I surprised them by saying that our scientific system is not sufficient to accomplish many of the things we believe and hope it is capable of.
There are so many scientific breakthroughs that have permeated throughout society, their repercussions can be seen in every American home, but mostly people are slow to accept change and if they ever relished the convenience of some new technology it is soon forgotten.
On the other hand, I feel a large group of people that are part of social organizations (not just religious) by having more defined goals and ethical codes are more aware of its (the organization's) impact in their every day life, and perhaps more grateful and active. (not to say there isn't a lot of apathy within these social groups)
I think there might be several identifiable groups or goals, such as commercial, knowledge for knowledge, and progression, and each group might have their own set of ethics. As Ladd argues, there is no set of special ethics for professionals, but creating an explicit code to live by that non-professionals can relate to could be a way of unifying the common goal and giving more power behind the science.
Why do we need a code of
(p. 35).”
I find it disturbing that
I find it disturbing that psychology seems to have a stricter adherence to ethical standards (APA Code of Ethics) while all other sciences seem to be lax in the sense that there are no set rules. Sure, those in the medical field and those who conduct research using human participants are bound by the Hippocratic Oath. However, no universal code exists for the life and biomedical sciences according to Nancy L. Jones, a bioethicist from Wake Forest University.
http://www.biology-online.org/articles/scientists_adopt_codes_ethics.html
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